Great first hour: pity about the rest

Director: David Jacobson
Starring: Ed Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse

Down in the Valley is set in modern day California, and stars Ed Norton as pseudo-cowboy Harlan trying to find meaning in his life. Attempting to discover a place in society, Harlan stumbles across the teenage angst ridden Tobe, played by Evan Rachel Wood. Their romance slowly blossoms and only Tobe's protective father Wade (played by Daivd Morse) stands in the way of happiness.

Unfortunately, despite being set up beautifully and with an intelligent script, Down in the Valley doesn't quite live up to it's earlier stages. Frankly, the opening hour of the film is excellent. Director David Jacobson gives us a great insight into modern teen life in California, showing the superficial-ness of television shows such as The O.C and instead choosing to show us a darker and more subdued way of life.

 The directing is fantastic, slow moving shots with little music emphasise the blossoming relationship between Harlan and Tobe, and the more 'edgy' scenes with Wade are done with perfect precision. The script links beautifully with the timing of Jacobson's direction, which is unsurprising giving he also wrote it. You won't find any long and unrealistic turns of phrase in this film, instead short, snappier and to be honest, more real-life dialogue gives the film a rough finish, which is far more realistic.

The music is the film's best feature though, mixing soft country singing straight out of the Dolly Parton greatest hits collection with eerie 'strings' music, it sets the mood of every scene perfectly, and seems to draw you further into the experience it is creating around you.

The undeniable problem with the film is the casting. Ed Norton is superb as Harlan, bringing a strange sense of realism to a part that would otherwise be comical. As his descent into schizophrenia is slowly uncovered to the audience as we near the end, Norton's ability to be able to flip between peaceful, loveable Harlan, to the personality of a schizophrenic, pseudo-cowboy "baddie" from an old Western is wonderful. However, Norton is unfortunately, four people short of a Full Monty. Frankly, he carries the film. Evan Rachel Wood is fine as Tobe, but the relationship between her and Harlan is woefully unrealistic. Its not that the part is bad, or that her acting is bad, the problem lies with the fact that at most times when the two get together, you have a sudden urge to call the police. The age gap is depressingly evident throughout, and it's terribly hard to get away from.

But the casting could be forgivable. Down in the Valley's largest problem comes from its length. The film could (and should) end a whole thirty minutes before it does as the later scenes are just so unneeded. The film has already said all it needs to, and the relationship between Tobe and Harlan has been rounded off accordingly. Then, just as you think the credits are about to roll, we realise there's going to be a whole other sub plot, a sub plot that eventually tells us nothing more than we already knew.

 Down in the Valley is by no means a bad film, but you can't help but feel a bit cheated by the final outcome after such a great opening hour. Clever directing and a wonderfully eccentric performance from Norton make this film more than watchable, but the sheer creepiness of the relationship between Harlan and Tobe, some weird casting decisions and its excessive length prevent this from reaching the dizzy heights of brilliance that it promises earlier on.

 3/5 - Good, but could have been so much better.